Rod hanger



Oct. 19, 1937.

L. A. VANDERVOORT ROD HANGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 12, 1955 INVENTOR Zew A. Vanda/wan M EW- ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1937. A. VANDERVOORT ROD HANGER Filed April 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Vanda/roar) ATTORNEY INVENTOR Zen/l A Patented Oct. 19, 1937 one-half to Charles E.

Senseman, Tulsa, Okla.

Application April 12, 1935, Serial No. 16,024

9 Claims.

This invention relates to rod hangers and more particularly to those of that character for suspending stands of pump rods in a derrick during the interval that the rods are withdrawn from a well incidental to well maintenance practices, and has for its principal objects to facilitate hanging the rods, to promote safety of operation, to provide a stronger, lighter construction at lower cost, and to provide for portability, whereby a hanger may be readily removed from one derrick and applied to another;

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rod hanger and its associated rod transferring mechanism embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the rod hanger and winch employed in the transferring of the stands of rods from the elevator to the hanger, taken on the line 2--2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section onthe line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section through the ,winch brake on the line 4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. .5 is a side elevational view of a conventional type derrick, particularlyillustrating application of my improved rod hanger and method of transferring stands of rods from the elevator to the hanger.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of hanger.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 'l'|, Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail section through a pair of adjacent teeth of the hanger illustrating the application of adapter plates to reduce the spacing therebetween.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates an oil well indicated by the tubing 2 and 3 designates a conventional type derrick for use in maintaining a well, for example in running in or pulling a string of sucker rods 4 which are employed in operating a pump in the bottom of a well.

The sucker rods comprise sections of rod each having a threaded pin 5 at one end and an internally threaded box 6 at the other to engage with the corresponding parts of the aligning rods to form the string 4. To facilitate application of a wrench in connecting or disconnecting the sections, the ends of the rod below the pin and at the boxes are of enlarged diameter and shaped to provide spaced annular collars "l and l} and intermediate polygonally. shaped wrench engag-' ing portion 9. The portions of the rods at their juncture with the collars 8 are tapered or filleted as at I!) to provide strength at a point of support for the rod elevators when the rods are run into or out of the well. r

In the ordinary practice of running the rods, two elevators are employed; one serving as a spider to support the string of rods in the tubing while the other is used as an elevator for raising the rods.

The elevator serving as a spider engages the tapered portion of the rod projecting from the top of the tubing and rests on the tubing. The other elevator is attached to a hook I I that is suspended by a cable [2 from one of the crown pulleys l3, the other end of the cable being wound on a suitable Windlass, not shown.

For example, assuming that a string of rods are to be withdrawn from the well, the hook I l is attached to the elevator which serves as a spider and the entire string is lifted in the derrick until a stand of rods has been withdrawn from the tubing. The second elevator will then be applied to the joint at the lower end of the stand to support the portion of thestring remaining within the well. Wrenches l5 and IE will then be applied to the'rods at the respective sides of the joint to unscrew the jaws of the lowermost rod in the stand from the pin of the uppermost rod of the suspended string. The wrenches are then operated to unscrew the joint to free the stand of rods. 7

It is the usual practice to lower the stand of rods into a rod trough. r

The elevator, upon being relieved of the stand of rods is then disengaged from the hook H which is then attached to the elevator then serving as the spider to'again raise the string of rods so that another stand can be uncoupled in a like manner. This process continues until the en: tire string has been withdrawn from the well. To rerun the rods in the well, the above opera tions are reversed.

Handling of the rods in the manner above described causes kinks, which finally cause breaking of the rods. Time and money is, therefore, lost in fishing for the broken rods during which time the well is out of production. To overcome this difiiculty, rod hangers have been provided to suspend the rods within the derrick, the advantages being that the rods are. kept straight and free of kinks, dirt and sand. Besides, they are in such a position that they can be put back into the well in exactly the same order in which of the base channel as shown in Fig. 1.

'inner part of the frame.

Connecting the legs I! at one side of the derrick is a support I 8, which, in the present instance, is illustrated as a pipe having its ends secured to the derrick legs in horizontal alignment with the girths I9 by means of U-shaped clamps 20 having the threaded shanks 2| thereof straddling the leg I! and extending through openings in the ends of the support to -be secured by nuts 22. The support l8 preferably is located at a height substantially in horizontal alignment with the upper'end of the rod stands as they are removed from the well to conveniently support a rod hanger 23 embodying the features of the present invention.

The rod hanger 23 includes a substantially U- shaped frame 24 preferably formed of structural members welded together to provide a frame of strong, light construction and which occupies a minimum of 'space in the derrick.

In the hanger illustrated, the frame 24 includes a base channel 25 and end angles 26 and 2? welded to and projecting laterally from the ends The structural members, when assembled to form the frame, are arranged so that the horizontal flanges 28 thereof project outwardly and the vertical flanges or webs 29 depend vertically to form the The ends of the vertical flanges of the angles adjacent the base channel 25 are provided with notches 30 to engage over the support [8 which extends longitudinally through the base channel when the frame is supported in the derrick as hereinafter described. The horizontal flanges of the end angles are provided with spaced pairs of apertures 3| and 32 located adjacent the ends thereof to pass pairs of suspending rods 36 and 31 which cooperate with the support l8 to rigidly retain the frame in the derrick to withstand the load of rods when the stands thereof are assembled therein. 7 In order to support the rods in the frame, the web of the base channel 25 carries a plurality of spaced teeth 38 extending therefrom in parallel relation with the end angles and having their ends terminating in substantial alignment with the outer ends thereof as illustrated in Fig. 3.

To provide maximum strength for a given weight, each tooth is preferably formed of plate material bent to form a tooth having a rounded upper edge 39 and dependingly spaced side flanges 4!! and 4| forming the top and sides of the tooth. To reduce necessary weight of material ,in the'teeth, the rear ends thereof are preferably of greater depth than the forward ends so that the cross section of the teeth is uniformly proportioned to resist shear stress created by load of the rod stands acting thereon.

The teeth are also preferably secured to the web of the channel so that the outer ends thereof are inclined upwardly as shown in Fig. 3 to retain the stands of rods at the rear portion of the teeth and prevent their ready displacement from off the outer ends thereof.

The teeth thus formed are spaced apart a sufficient distance to admit the smaller diameter of the rods below the tapered portions thereof and so that the rounded upper edges of the adjacent teeth provide seats for engaging the inner collar 8 of the rods. To also assist in retention of the rods by the teeth, the ends thereof are curved upwardly to provide lips 42 so that it is impossible to slide the rods from the teeth without first raising the rods over the lips. ,To further secure therods and prevent their accidental displacement, the vertical flanges 26 of the end angles are provided at the outer ends thereof with apertures 43 and 44 through which a rod (not shown) may be extended to close the rod receiving slots between the teeth.

The frame thus far described is mounted in the derrick so that the notches 39 engage over the support l8 and the base channel 25 thereof is secured thereto by keeper plates 45 pivotally fixed to an inset angle 46' by means of clamping screws 41 extending over the support and which have their ends extending over the support to close the notches. To facilitate actuation of the clamping screws, the heads thereof are provided with lever arms 48 by which they may be readily turned when the clamp screws are to be tightened or released.

The upper ends of the suspension rods 36 and 31 are attached to the upper portion of the derrick so that their lower ends pass through the openings 3| and 32. The lower ends of the rods projecting through the openings are threaded to accommodate nuts 49 engaging under the horizontal flanges of the angles. The rods 36 and 31 are preferably formed in sections 50 and 5| that are coupled by turn-buckles 52 whereby the length of the rods may be adjusted to support the frame in a horizontal plane.

In assisting removal of the rods from the elevator and to facilitate their transfer to the hanger for support thereby, I employ a transfer mechanism as now to be described.

The transfer mechanism includes a tackle 53' comprising an upper tackle block 54 that is suspended from the top of the derrick on a cable 55 and a lower block 56 which is suspended from the upper block by a cable 5'! reaved 'over the respective sheaves 58 and 59 of the upper block and the single sheave 60 of the lower block as shown in Fig. 1, one end of the cable being secured to the end of the lower block as at 6|. The other end of the cable is wound on a windlass later described.

Suspended from the lower block 56 by a flexible connection 62 is a rod engaging member 63.

The rod engaging member 63 includes a substantially cylindrical sleeve having an opening 64 in one side thereof communicating with a slot 65 in its lower end through which the head of the rod is passed to attach the member 63. Formed at the sides of the slot 65 are shoulders 66 and 61 for engaging under the upper collar of the rods at the polygonal portions thereof. The member 63 is connected to the cable by a swivel eye 68 rotatably mounted in the upper end thereof.

The Windlass 69 is mounted on a bracket plate 10 carried on the frame at the outer end of the end angle 26 by means of a clamp 'H including a fixed jaw 12 and a movable jaw 73. The fixed jaw 12 includes a base plate 14 welded to the lower end of a bracket plate 16 and having a lug portion 15 projecting therefrom and engaging in an opening 16 provided in the depending flange of the end angle 26. The movable clamping jaw comprises a plate 11 having channel shaped grooves I8 and 19 adapted to engage respectively the lower edges of the base plate 14 and the depending flange of the angle 28 as best illustrated in Fig. 2. The jaws are provided with aligning openings and 8| for passing a clamping bolt 82. The clamping bolt carries a nut 83 engageable in the socket 84 in-the fixed clamping jaw. The lower end of the. bolt has a T-shaped head engageable with the lower face of the movable jaw.

In order to retain the lower jaw. in connected relation with the bracket plate, a pin 86 is extended through ears 8'! in the base plate of the fixed jaw to engage under the movable jaw when the edge of the angle 26 is engaged in the groove 18 thereof. While the movable jaw is thus supported it is free to fulcrum on the angle 26 when the clamping bolt is adjusted.

It is thus apparent that when the jaw is tightened to draw the plates together, the bracket plate 89 will be securely anchored to the end angle 26.

The upper end of the bracket plate I0 carries a tubular boss 88 to which is pivotally mounted a brake drum housing 89. The brake drum housing includes a vertical plate portion having laterally spaced ears 9I for engaging the opposite ends of the tubular boss and through which a pivot pin 92 is inserted to pivotally mount the brake housing. The plate 90 is provided with a depending arm 93 having an opening 94 therein through which a bolt is projected which, when tightened, will cause the brake housing to pivot downwardly toward the bracket plate. In order to pivot the brake housing in the opposite direction, the bracket plate 10 is provided with a thumb screw 96 that is threaded in an opening 91 in the plate and has its end engaging against the adjacent face of the brake housing plate so that when the screw is rotated to bear against the brake housing plate, the brake housing will be pivoted in the direction opposite to that when the bolt 95 is tightened.

The brake housing plate 89 carries a central bearing 98 in which is mounted the end of a stub shaft 99 which rotatably mounts. the hub I90 of the reel 69. The reel 69 includes a brake drum IIII that is engaged by a brake band I02 having one end fixed to a pin I03 in the brake drum housing and having its opposite end extending around the drum and connected with the threaded rod I04 that is slidably mounted in an'opening I05 in the brake housing.

The outer end of the rod I04 carries a nut for adjusting the tension of a coil spring I 06 that is sleeved about the rod'and has one end bearing against the nut and its other end against the brake housing to retain the brake band in contracted condition around the brake drum .for resisting rotation of the reel in one direction. For example, when the reel rotates in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4, the drum rotates freely within the band, but when it is reversed, the rotation is under control of the band as governed by the tension of the spring.

The reel shaft 99 projects beyond the hub I00 and carries a collar I01 that is retained on the shaft by a head I08 thereon. The collar I0! carries a laterally projecting lug-I09 to which is pivotally mounted a crank handle IIO.

With the construction thus far described, it is apparent that when the crank is rotated the clutch collar will rotate freely. around the shaft;

however-,1 provide clutch means for. grippingly engaging the reel .whereby the reel is rotated to wind the cable thereon.

This is accomplished by providing the crank 'III] witha lug -III adapted to engage oneof a series of lugs II2 on the face of .the .drum when the crank is pivoted toward the reel. The'crank is normally retained in spaced relation with the lug on the reel by means of a coil spring I.I3 having one. endengaging over a lugon thecrank and its other'endengaging a radial-lug II4 on the clutch collar; 1. 'It is thus apparent: that the reel is freely *mounted to'rotate without rotating the crank, for a purpose'later described.

.The free end of the tackle cable 51 is extended through an opening H5 in the reel and wound thereon by rotating the crank to cause the tackle .to raise the transfer device 63. F

In Figs. 6 and '7 is illustrated a modified form of the invention wherein the end members of the hanger frame include fiat plates H6 and II'I-instead of the angles illustrated in the preferred form.

Connected with the plates are the depending ends H8 and H9 of a yoke member I20 which is suspended by a cable I2I from the topof the derrick.

This form of the invention is also provided with a modified form of friction grip for the tackle cableand which is shown as including a bracket plate I22 that is fixed to the plate H6 in the same manner as the bracket plate I0. previously described and which carries a rectangular shaped housing I23containing a'fixed block I24 provided with a groove I25 for engaging one side of the cable. r

The opposite side of the cable is engaged by a movable block I26 having a similar groove'l21 and which is urged intoengaging relation with the cable by a screw shaft I28 that is'slidable in an opening I29 in the housing I23 and has its opposite end engaging against the movable block.

Sleeved about the screw is a coil spring I30 having one end engaging the inner face of the housing wall and its other end engaging a threaded nut I3I on the shaft.

In using an apparatus constructed as described, the horizontal support I8 is secured to adjacent legs of the derrick at a suitable height to accommodate the length of rod stands removed from the well and above a tubing board I33 that is carried by the cross girths- I34. The hanger frame 24 is secured to the support by turning the keeper plates 45 so that the ends thereof extend across the support I8, after which the clamp screws are tightened. The turnbuckle suspen-.

sion rods are then mounted in the'derrick for carrying the hanger in level position on-the'support I8. I

The block and tackle carrying the transfer device is suspended in the derrick on the cable 55 as shown in Fig. 1. The free end of the tackle cable is then inserted in the opening II5 of the reel as shown in Fig. 2 andthe crank rotated to wind the free portion of the cable on the reel. This is accomplished by pressing the crank inwardly to engage the lug III thereon with one of the lugs II2 of the reel. If the axis of the reel is not located to cause proper reeling of the cable thereon, the thumb screw 56 and bolt 95 are adjusted until the axis of the reel is at the desired angle. e

In pulling the rods, one of the elevators is atattached to the upper end of the rod projecting from the well and the bail thereof is secured to the hook II. The cable I2 is then operated over the pulley I3 to raise the rods within the derrick.

When a number of rod sections have been raised from the well to make up the desired length of stand, the other elevator is engaged with the lowermost coupling of the rod which is then projecting from the tubing 2 to support the rods within the well while the stand is being uncoupled by the wrenches I5 and I6 as in conventional practice. As the stand is being uncoupled, a rod man standing on the tubing board I33 will apply the transfer device 63 to the polygonal shaped portion 9 at the top of the stand and release the elevator, after which he will shift the suspended stand of rods across the derrick for support in the space between the first two teeth of the hanger adjacent the angle 21.

The tension of the spring M16 is adjusted so that the resistance offered by the brake band I02 to rotation of the reel substantially balances the weight of the stand. After the stand has entered between the teeth, pressure is applied on the rod I04 to release the brake so as to allow lowering of the stand under its own weight until the collar 8 is engaged by the upper rounded surface of the teeth.

If it is necessary to raise the rod, this can be readily accomplished by the rod man rotating the reel in a direction to wind the cable thereon, the reduction in leverage afforded by the tackle being sufficient to permit operation of the crank with comparative ease.

The hook is then lowered and the elevator removed therefrom topermit the engagement of the elevator which is then serving as a spider. The hook is again raised to withdraw another stand of rods from the well in the manner previously described. After the second stand is uncoupled, it is moved to support by the hanger either between the teeth carrying the first rod or in the space between the next two teeth so that the rods are supported in the hanger in the same relative order that they are withdrawn from the well. Thus, when the rods are to be reinserted in the well, they are run in exactly the same order that they are withdrawn and ocupy the same relative positions in the tubing.

In case a stand of rods has not been released from the elevator when it is engaged by the transfer device and the hook lowered to engage another stand of rods the transfer device, being connected with the upper end of the stand, is carried therewith; however, the brake band I02 will yield to allow unwinding of the drum. If the lowering of the hook is not stopped in time, the end of the transfer or tackle cable will be withdrawn from the opening II5 so that there is no danger of breaking the cable or causing accident to any of the rod crew.

It is obvious that due to the clutch arrangement of the crank, the crank will not be rotated upon unreeling of the cable as the spring IO'I retains the lug II I from engagement with the lugs I I2. Therefore, even though the rod man on the tubing board should have his hand on the crank, the sudden unreeling of the cable cannot possibly cause injury to him, as would be the case if the crank were attached directly to the reel.

In returning the rods to the well, the stands are removed from the hanger by the transfer device in reversed order to that in which they were applied to the hanger, the rod crew merely reversing the operations necessary to withdrawing the rods, as previously described.

It sometimes hapens that the rods become so worn that the. collars thereon become small enough that they might slip through the teeth of the hanger. I, therefore, provide adapter sleeves I36 that are clamped about the teeth as shown in Fig. 8.

In theform of invention illustrated in Fig. 6, the transfer device is operated in substantially the same manner as in the preferred form; however, the operator does not have the advantage of the leverage afforded by the reel and in this instance it is necessary for him to manually operate the tackle cable, the end of which, however, is frictionally engaged between the blocks I24 and I25 which are tensioned by the spring I 30 to substantially balance the weight of the stand of the rods in a manner similar to the brake band I92 previously described.

When it is necessary for the operator to adjust the cable relatively to the block, this can be accomplished by operating the screw I28 to loosen the pressure on the movable block I26 on the cable, after which it is readjusted to the tension required for substantially balancing the stand of rods.

Should the lowering means be accidentally lowered without release of the transfer member 63, the weight of' the rods will be sufficient to overcome the gripping action of the brake blocks and the end of the cable will pull therefrom to effect its release.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a rod hanger and transfer mechanism which is of relatively simple, inexpensive construction and which affords safety factors to prevent injury to any of the rod crew.

It is also apparent that the hanger is readily removed from the derrick so that it may be applied to any of the other derricks of a lease.

If desired, the hanger can be left permanently mounted in the derrick and the transfer device removed for application to a similar hanger in any one of the other derricks, thereby eliminating the cost of extra transfer equipment for each one of the derricks.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a derrick, a rod hanger, means mounting the rod hanger in the derrick, a rod transfer device, a tackle suspending the rod transfer device in the derrick, a reel mounted on the rod hanger for operating the tackle, and means for adjustably mounting the reel on the hanger to selectively vary angularity of the axis of the reel relatively to the tackle.

2. In combination with-a derrick, a rod hanger,

rod transfer device, a tackle suspending the rod transfer device in the derrick, a reel. mounted on the rod hanger for operating the tackle, and removable means for adjustably mounting the reel on the hanger to selectively vary angularity of the axis of the reel relatively to the tackle.

3. In combination, a well derrick, a main hoisting cable and elevator therefor for raising a sucker rod'to racking position, a rod rack mounted on said derrick to receive stands of said rod, and a transfer device for transferring a stand of the rod from the elevator to the rack comprising a hoisting means and a brake therefor normally operative on the hoisting means to sustain the weight of a portion of the rod, said brake means being ineffective during lowering operation of the 7 means mounting the rod hanger in the derrick, a

rod under control of the main elevator hoist for unscrewing a section of the rod.

4. In combination, a well derrick, a main hoisting cable and elevator therefor for raising a sucker rod to elevated position in the derrick, a brake controlled transfer device for receiving and holding the rod at the elevated position aforesaid, said transfer device including means for adjusting the brake control to effect automatic lowering of the rod from the elevated position when more than a predetermined load is transferred to said transfer device.

5. In combination with a well derrick, a main hoisting cable and elevator therefor for raising a string of sucker rods in the derrick, a transfer mechanism for receiving and raising a stand of said rods to an elevated position in the derrick, said transfer mechanism including a tackle, means connecting the tackle with the stand of rods, hoisting means on the derrick for operating the tackle, a brake for the hoisting means, means for adjusting the brake to effect automatic lowering of the stand of rods from said elevated position when more than a predetermined load is applied to said transfer mechanism, and means for releasably connecting the tackle with the hoisting means so that when the stand of rods is lowered beyond a predetermined distance release of the tackle is effected to avoid breaking of the transfer mechanism.

6. In combination with a well derrick, a main hoisting cable and elevator therefor for raising a string of sucker rods to a racking position in the derrick, a rod rack mounted in the derrick to receive the stand of rods, and a transfer mechanism for transferring a stand of rods from the elevator to the rod rack, said transfer mechanism including a tackle, means connecting the tackle with the stand of rods, hoisting means fixed to the rack for operating the tackle, a brake for the hoisting means, means for adjusting the brake to effect automatic lowering of the stand of rods when more than a predetermined load is applied to said transfer mechanism, and means for releasingly connecting the tackle with the hoisting means whereby release of the tackle is effected when said stand of rods has been lowered beyond a predetermined distance to prevent breaking of the transfer mechanism and upset of the rod rack.

'7. In combination with a well derrick, a main hoisting cable and elevator therefor for raising a stand of sucker rods to racking position, a rod rack mounted on said derrick to receive stands of sucker rods, and a transfer mechanism for transferring a stand of rods from the elevator to the rod rack comprising a tackle including a cable, means connecting the cable with the stand of rods, a hoisting reel for winding the cable,

means mounting the hoisting reel on the rod rack, means for operating the hoisting reel in one direction to raise the stand of rods to racking position, a brake for controlling rotation of the hoisting reel, means for adjusting the brake to effect automatic lowering of the stand of rods when more than a predetermined load is applied to said transfer mechanism, and a clutch connecting said hoisting reel operating means with said hoisting reel to effect release of said operating means when excessive load is applied to the transfer mechanism.

. 8. In combination with a well derrick, a main hoisting cable and elevator therefor for raising a string of sucker rods to racking position, a rod rack mounted on said derrick to receive stands of sucker rods, and a transfer mechanism for transfernng a stand of rods from the elevator to the rod rack comprising a tackle including a cable, means connecting the cable with the stand of rods, a hoisting reel for winding the cable, means mounting the hoisting reel on the rod rack, means for operating the hoisting reel in one direction to raise the stand of rods to racking position, a brake for controlling rotation of the hoisting reel, means for adjusting the brake to effect automatic lowering of the stand of rods when more than a predetermined load is applied to said transfer mechanism, a clutch connecting said hoisting reel operating means with said hoisting reel to effect release of said operating means when excessive load is applied to the transfer mechanism, and means for releasably connecting the cable with the hoisting reel whereby the cable is released when the stand of rods has been lowered beyond a predetermined distance to prevent breaking of the transfer mechanism and upset of the rod rack.

9. In combination with a well derrick, a main hoisting cable and elevator therefor for raising a string of sucker rods to an elevated position in the derrick, and a transfer mechanism for receiving and holding a stand of said rods at an elevated position in the derrick, said transfer mechanism comprising a tackle including a flexible cable, means connecting the cable with the standof rods, a hoisting reel for winding the cable, means supporting the hoisting reel in a fixed position on the derrick, a brake for the hoisting reel, a crank for operating the hoisting reel, means for adjusting the brake to effect automatic lowering of the stand of rods from elevated position when more than a predetermined load is applied to said transfer mechanism, and a clutch connecting the crank with the hoisting reel to effect release of the crank when the hoisting reel is actuated responsive to lowering of the stand of rods under said excessive load on the transfer mechanism.

LEVI A. VANDERVOORT. 

